Alignment controlled packaging machine



June 13, 1939. SALFISBERG 2,162,230

ALIGNMENT CONTROLLED PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1958. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

24013 Q. SW

A TTORNEX June 13, 1939. 1.. i... SALFISBERG ALIGNMENT CONTROLLED PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 THERMIONIC AMPLIFIYING BRIDGE Speed Reducer clutch INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Motor Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES ALIGNMENT CONTROLLED PACKAGING MACHINE Leroy L. Salfisberg, South Orange, N. 1., assignor to Ivers-Lee Company, Newark, N. 1., a cor-,

poration of Delaware Application February 5, 1938, Serial No. 188.845

9 Claims.

This invention pertains in general to packaging machinery and methods, and specifically relates to an arrangement for alignment control in the packaging of commodities.

The principal object of the invention consists in providing a system for producing plural webs in a packaging operation, so that a package can be formed of the adjacent webs with indicia thereon properly positioned.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means for producing a plurality of sub-webs from a primary web and utilizing such sub-webs in a controlled packaging operation.

Another object comprises providing a packaging system for feeding commodities in accordance with the position of packaging material fed to wrap the commodities.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a representation of a further elaboration of the system depicted in Fig. 1.

In accordance with the invention, a primary web of packaging material is provided with desired forms of indicia and the primary web is divided into sub-webs which are fed upon opposite sides of the commodity feeding system. The feeding of the sub-webs and of thecommodity may be controlled by a photo-electric system in accordance with the position of the indicia on the primary web so that packaging units can be formed from the sub-webs with the indicia properly aligned thereon.

Referring to the drawings in detail a primary web I of packaging material is fed from a supply source, such as a roll A. Web I may consist of various types of packaging material, such as heat scalable Cellophane and the like, foils, paper, etc., and is preferably provided with plural rows 2 and 3 of indicia. The indicia is in the form of printed labels 2a and So although other forms of indicia may be included. Again, in accordance with the invention, special indicia marks may be provided for eifecting the controlling operations in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 1 illustrates the fundamental principle of the invention, which is the division of a primary web into sub-webs so that indicia on the sub- Webs are properly positioned in a packaging operation. Both sub-webs originate from a com- 55 mon source which is the primary web, and, therefore, the positioning of these sub-webs with respect to each other in the packaging operation must be in a predetermined relationship controlled by the position of the primary web. Fig. 2 represents an embodiment of the invention inwide use in the packaging art.

The web I is fed over idler roller 5. In so feeding, and as shown in Fig. 2, the web I passes under a photo-electric optical system 6 including a light source l, a lens tube 8, a lens tube 9, and a photo-electric cell NJ. The light source I directs a pencil of light to the surface of the web I, the light being reflected to the photosensitive cathode of the tube ill The tube ll] is connected with an electron tube amplifying bridge ll, including suitable sources of potential, adapted to energize a slow-to-release electromagnet l2, when the bridge H is unbalanced by a change of intensity in the reflected light falling upon the photo-sensitive cathode of the tube l0.

The electromagnet it controls a switch l3. The switch l3 provides an energizing circuit from an electrical source 4 to solenoids l4, l5, l6, l1, l8 and I9. All of these solenoids are connected in parallel to the terminals 20, the specific circuit connections being omitted to avoid confusion in the drawing.

A knife element 23 longitudinally severs the web I as it is fed to the roller 5. The severing takes place along a longitudinal line intermediate the rows of indicia 2 and 3 so as to divide theprimary web into sub-webs la and lb having corresponding rows of indicia. The webs la and lb are fed through a 90 turn and pass under idler rollers 24 and 25 respectively. The webs la and lb then are fed in opposite directions so that the web la passes over idler rollers 26 and 21, and the web lb passes over idler rollers 28 and 29.

Stationary pad blocks 30 and 3l are provided intermediate the roller pairs 26-2'l and 28-49.

as shown. These blocks cooperate with movable pad blocks 32 and 33 attached to the plungers of solenoids l4 and I9 respectively.

After passing the rollers 21 and 29, the secondary webs la and lb again converge and pass over idler rollers 35 and 36. A stationary crimping die is provided behind the web la and a movable mechanically complementary crimping die ll is mounted upon the plunger of solenoid l8. This plunger is normally maintained by a spring in a position such that the block 4| is out of engagement with the block 40. When the solenoid I8 is energized, the block M is moved toward engagement with the block 40, thereby crimping together the webs la and lb in sealasmayalsoblocklLsoasto not driven by the motor 48.

Various commodities may be packaged in accordance with the invention, but in the present instance articles such as pharmaceutical pellets 6. are fed down a chute ii in file formation. A bracket 2 having arms 83 and 64, slidably operates through openings in the chute ii to release one pellet at a time. When the arm 4 is retracted to release the endmost pellet, the arm I prevents the pellets above from being released. Such a release operation is effected when the solenoid I5 is energized. When the solenoid II is deenergized, an associated spring returns the bracket 62 to a normal position as shown whereby arm 63 allows the endmost pellet to descend into engagement with the arm 6|. The released pellet falls between the opposed webs la and lb intermediate the blocks ll and ll, in a central position, so that the energization of the solenoid l I causes the encircling sealing flange to enclose the pellet in a formed package structure.

It will be seen that when the boundary of one of the indicia areas on web I crosses the pencil of light directed from the lamp 1, the energizing circuit will be closed at switch l3, whereupon the solenoids lL-l! are energized in properly adjusted time relation to interrupt movement of the rollers l5, l6, arrest movement of the webs la and lb by movement of the pad blocks 32 and 33, while a pellet is deposited between the webs la and lb by the energization of the solenoid ii. The solenoid II is adjusted by suitable retarding device to be operable slightly behind the operation of the other solenoids, so that the blocks II and H are brought into mutual engagement after the pellet has been properly deposited. Simultaneously, the severing element 50 cuts oil the bottom-most package.

Although a preferred form of the invention has been disclosed, various changes and equivalent structures will readily occur to those skilled in the art. For example, instead of solenoids "-49; various mechanical or pneumatic arrangements can be devised to efi'ect the same op-- erations. Therefore, no limitation is intended from the foregoing except as pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and original to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a packaging machine, a commodity feeding line, means for releasing a commodity therefrom, means for feeding a. primary web of reduction gear clutch box ll the acka ing material, means for dividing said web to form sub-webs, means for feeding said subwebs on opposite sides of said commodity feeding line, and means for joining said sub-webs around released commodity to form a package thererom.

2. A Packaging system comprising, means for feeding web packaging material with indicia reon, a control system sensitive to the passing of said indicia for producing an electrical energy change, commodity feeding means including release means for releasing the commodity to a wrapping position, means for feeding layers of material on opposite sides of the released commodity, sealing means for sealing together said layers around the released commodity, means for operating said release means in accordance with said electrical energy change, and means for actuating said sealing means in accordance with said energy change to produce a commodity package having indicia aligned thereon in a predetermined manner.

3. The method of producing a commodity package with front and back indicia aligned which comprises, feeding a primary web of packaging material with rows of indicia, forming said primary web into sub-webs respectively bearing said rows of indicia, and joining'said sub-webs together around a commodity to form a package with the indicia of said sub-webs aligned.

4. The method of producing a package with plural walls thereof having indicia thereof in predetermined relationship which method comprises, controllably feeding a primary web bearing the plural indicia to be controllably disposed in the package, and forming said primary web into sub-webs respectively bearing said indicia, and forming a package with said sub-webs with the indicia thereof spaced in predetermined relationship with respect to each other.

5. A packaging machine comprising means for supplying web packaging material, a control system for producing electric energy changes in accordance with the feeding position of said material, means for feeding layers of said material on opposite sides of a commodity, sealing means operable to seal together said layers around said commodity, and means controlled by said control system for starting and stopping said feeding means in accordance with said energy changes.

6. The packaging machine set forth in claim 5 with the addition of means controlled by said control system for feeding a commodity into wrapping position in accordance with said energy changes.

7. The packaging machine set forth in claim 5 with the addition of means controlled by said control system for operating said sealing means in accordance with said energy changes.

8. The packaging machine set forth in claim 5 with the addition of means controlled by said control system for feeding a. commodity into wrapping position in accordance with said energy changes, and means controlled by said control system for operating said sealing means in accordance with said energy changes.

9. The packaging machine set forth in claim 5 wherein said control system comprises a photoelectric mechanism sensitive to light 'changes caused by movement of said packaging material.

LEROY L. SALFISBERG. 

